Garment or ironing press



Feb. 27;, 1934. E. DAVIS 1,949,115

I GARMENT on IRONING PRESTS Filed May 10. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A Tram-Eng Feb-27, 1934. E. DAVIS 1,949,115

' GARMENT on momma Pfis'fi Filed May 10. 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. MM

Patented F b. '21, 1934 UNITED STATES GARMENT R IRONING PRESS Ernest Davis, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to The Prosperity Company 1110., Syracuse, N. Y., acorporation of New York Application May 10, 193i). Serial No. 451,454

16 Claim.

This invention relates to pressing machines such as garment or ironing and laundry presses.

An object of this invention is to provide a pressing machine which is closed under a light initial pressure, and upon closing movement is automatically put under high pressure.

A further object of this inventionis to provide a pressing machine of the two-hand control type in which it is necessary that the operator use both hands to control the closing of the press under light pressure, but which will automatically go under heavy pressure when .closed.

Further objects and advantages of the construction will be pointed out and will become apparent as the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views. v

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic fragmentary elevation of a pressing machine showing the location of the various parts of my invention as applied to a conventionaltype oi pressing machine.

Figure 2 is an enlarged view showing the conmotion between the yoke and head of the machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 8 is a section along the line 3-3, of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a diagrammatic view showing particularly the control means and their relation with various parts of the pressing'machine shown in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top view of certain elements of the pressing machine illustrated in the lower part of Fi ure 4.

Figure 1 shows a pressing machine of the conventional type in which a stationary jaw or buck 1 is mounted on a support 2 rigidly secured to a pressing machine frame 3. A yoke 4 pivotally connected to the frame as at 5 carries a movable jaw or pressing head 6.

The machine or ironing head thereof is normally held in open position by a spring 7 which is pivotally secured to the yoke 4 as at 8, and connected to the frame of the machine by a hook 9.

The pressing machine is closed under light pressure by suitable motor means such as a. fluid motor 10. An upper arm 11 is pivoted to the yoke member 4 at 8 and to a lower arm 12 at 5513, the arm 12 being pivotally secured to the frame of the machine at 14. A'cam arm or booster bar 15 is pivotally connected at 16 to the pressing machine frame and provided with a slot 17. the lower side of which is formed with a radius about the pivot 14 as a center.

As the pressing machine closes, the pivot point 13 between the upper and lower arms 11 and 12 moves to the right in Figure 1, and the lower end of the arm 11 enters the slot 1'7 in the cam arm 15. An abutment member 18 is provided on 05 the cam arm 15. The upper portion oi! the arm 12 will strike abutment 18 to prevent the pivot point 13 from moving in so close to the machine frame that the arms 11 and 12 will be in a straight line relation. Since these arms never move into a straight line relation, it is possible for the spring '7 to open and press and shift the pivot point 13 to the left when the power for closing the press is released.

Suitable motor means such as the fluid motor 20 are provided at one end of the booster bar or cam arm 15.

The operation of the machine as thus far described is as follows:

Fluid under pressure is admitted to the fluid motor 10 which closes the press under light pressure against the tension or the spring '7, and causes the pivot point 13 to move to the right, the lower end of arm 11 entering the slot 17 in the cam arm 15. Fluid under pressure is then admitted to the fluid motor 20 which forces one end of the cam arm 15 down to cause the bottom of the slot 1'7 to engage and raise the lower end of arm 11 to put the press under heavy pressure.

The mechanism per se thus far described forms no part of the present invention.

The machine is provided with manually controlled devices such as the control buttons 21 and 21 as used on the conventional two-hand control type of pressing machine. These control buttons operate valves to control the flow of fluid to the fluid motors for operating the machine as will be presently described.

Fluid such as air under pressure is supplied to the machine from a suitable source through a supply pipe 22. This pipe connects directly with the. valve casing 23 containing an intake valve 24, an exhaust valve 25 connected together by a stem portion 26. A spring 27 located within the valve casing normally holds the intake valve 24 closed and the exhaust valve 25 open. The valves are operated through a stem 28' which projects through the casing and is moved by a bell crank 9 p rated Irom the control button 21-.

A pipe 30 connects with the intermediate portion of the valve chamber 23 between the valves 24, 25 conveys fluid to a pipe branch 31, one side of which connects with a valve chamber 32, and the other side connects with the fluid motor 10 which is used for preliminarily closing the press or for closing the press under light pressure. The valve-casing 32 is provided with an exhaust valve 33 operated through a stem 34 which projects through the valve casing and is moved by a bell crank 35 operated from the control button 21.

A pipe 40 connects to the fluid supply line 22 leads to a valve chamber 41 which contains an intake valve 42 and exhaust valve 43 which are connected together by a stem 44. A spring 45 normally holds the intake valve 42 closed and the exhaust valve 43 open as shown in Figure 4. These valves 42, 43 are operated through a stem 46 which is moved by a bell crank 47, operated in a manner later to be described. A pipe 50 connected to the intermediate portion of the valve chamber 41 between the intake valve 42 and the exhaust valve 43, supplies, fluid to the fluid motor 20 which is used for putting the press under high or heavy pressure.

A pipe 51 connects the fluid motor 20 with the valve chamber 52 which contains the exhaust valve 53. Thisvalve is normally held closed by a spring 54. An exhaust control lever 55 may be used to open the exhaust valve 53 by applying pressure against the valve stem 56.

Referring particularly to Figure 2, stud bolts 60 in the pressing machine head extend through the yoke 4. Nuts 61, or other suitable head portions on the stud bolts 60 are held against the yoke 4 by compression springs 62 which urge the head 6 away from the yoke 4.

The yoke 4 is provided with a bearing point 63 which registers with a suitable groove 65 on the head 6. Due to the action of the springs 62, the bearing point 63 is normally held a slight distance away from the groove 65. When the machine is closed, the springs 62 will be compressed and the bearing point 63 will come in contact with the groove 65 to apply pressure to the head 6.

Referring to Figures 3 and 4, a spring tappet member normally engages with the head 6. When the machine goes under pressure and the head 6 moves closer to the yoke 4 due to compression of the springs 62 as above described, the spring tappet member 70 will force its stem 71 upward against the bell crank 47 to move the valve stem 46 to the left in Figure 4, thus opening the intake valve 42 and closing the exhaust valve 43. It will be observed, therefore, that it is the relative yielding movement or the lost motion connection between the movable jaw or head 6 and the supporting member or yoke 4 which 'actuates the heavy pressure control means or valves 42, 43.

When the machine is not in operation, fluid from the supply line 22 passes into the valve chamber 23 against the intake valve 24. This valve will be closed however, by the spring 27. Fluid may also pass from the supply line 22. through the pipe 40, to the valve casing 41 and the pressure will be applied against the intake valve 42, but this valve will also be closed, under the influence of the spring 45.

Depression of the control button 21 alone will have no eifect since no fluid can reach the valve casing 32.

Depression of the control button 21" alone,

will open the intake valve 24 and close the exhaust valve 25. Fluid from the supply line 22 may then pass through the valve casing 23 and out through the pipe 30 and branch 31 to the valve casing 32. The valve 33 will be open however, and the fluid will exhaust through the exhaust port 75.

If both control buttons 21 and 21 are depressed, the intake valve 24 will be opened, and the exhaust valves 25 and 33 will be closed. Fluid will then pass from the supply line 22 through the valve casing 23 into the pipe 30 to the branch 31. There being no escape for the fluid through the valve casing 32, since the exhaust valve 33 is closed, the fluid will enter the cylinder of the fluid motor 10 and close the press under light initial pressure.

When the press closes and the spring tappet member 70 forces the stem 71 against the bell crank 47, the valve stem 46 will be moved to the left, the intake valve 42 opened, and exhaust valve 43 closed. Fluid may then pass from the fluid supply line 22 through the pipe 40, through the valve casing 41 into the pipe 50 to the cylinder of the fluid motor 20 to put the machine under heavy pressure. There will be no escape for the fluid through the pipe 51 since the exhaust valve 53 and valve casing 52 is normally closed.

If the operator removes his hands from the control buttons 21, 21 after the machine has gone under pressure, the intake valve 24 will be closed, and the exhaust valves 25 and 33 will be opened. This will cut off the supply of fluid to the fluid motor 10. Fluid will still pass however, through the pipe 40, valve casing 41, and pipe 50 to the high pressure fluid motor 20, since the intake valve 42 will be held open and the exhaust valve 43 closed so long as the machine is under pressure.

From the above description, it will be apparent that after the operator removes his hands from the control buttons, the machine will remain locked under pressure by virtue of the movement of the head 6 toward the yoke 4 and consequent operation of the valves in valve chamber 41; this construction obviating the necessity of fluid actuated locking means such as previously used on pressing machines of this type. The heavy pressure valves in valve casing 41 serve in a sense, then, as a locking means since the press remains closed even though the control buttons or manuals 21 and 21 have been released. The valve means 42, 43 have a double function, namely, controlling the heavy pressure means and holding the press closed so that the operator may release the control buttons 21 and 21. It will be noted that the release of the control buttons exhausts the fluid from the press-closing motor 10 but the press remains or is held closed by the heavy piessure motor 20.

When the operator wishes to open the press, the exhaust control lever is moved to open the exhaust valve 53 which allows fluid from the fluid motor 20 to escape through the pipe 51 and valve chamber 52. The spring 7 will move the press into open position. The fluid in the fluid motor 10 escapes through the valve chamber 32' and exhaust port 75.

While I have described the preferred embodiment of my invention, various changes and modifications therein may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims. a

What I claim is:

1. In a pressing machine, in combination. co- 150 operating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuating means for said movable pressing element including a lost motion connection; control devices for operating the actuating means to bring the pressing elements together under initial pressure and take up the lost motion of said connection; and automatic means operated by pressure on the movable pressing element, when said lost motion is taken up, to control the actuating means to put the pressing elements under additional final pressure.

2. In a pressing machine, in combination, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuating means for said movable pressing element including a lost motion connection, motor means for operating the actuating means; control devices for operating the motor to bring the pressing elements together to close the press under initial pressure and take up the lost motion in said connection; automatic means operable by the taking up of said lost motion when the pressing elements .engage to control the motor means to apply additional pressure to the pressing elements.

3. In a pressing machine, in combination, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuating means for said movable pressing element, motor means for operating the actuating means; control devices for operating the motor means to bring the pressing elements together to close the press under initial pressure; automatic means, including a lost motion connection, controlled by the pressure on the pressing elements to control the motor means to apply additional pressure to the pressing elements.

4. In a pressing machine, in combination, cooperating pressing elements, one of which is movable toward and from the other; actuating means for said movable pressing element, a motor for operating the actuating means to bring the pressing elements together to close the press under initial pressure; manual controlled devices for said motor; a second motor for operating the actuating means to apply additional pressure to the pressing elements; and means, including a lost motion connection, operated automatically by the pressure between the pressing elements, when they are brought together under initial pressure, for controlling the second motor.

5. In a power pressing machine. a movable supporting member, a pressing jaw movably mounted on the supporting member; a motor for operating the pressing machine; means controlling the operation of the motor; and means operated by the movement of the pressing jaw, with respect to its supporting member, for operating the motor controlling means.

6. In a power pressing machine, a movable supporting member, a pressing jaw movably mounted on the. supporting member; a fluid motor for operating the pressing machine; valve means controlling the supply of fluid to said motor; and means operated by movement of the pressing jaw with respect to its supporting member for operating the valve means.

'7. In a power pressing machine, a movable supporting member, a pressing jaw movably mounted on the supporting member, a fluid motor for operating the pressing machine; valve means controlling the supply of fiuid to said motor; means located between the pressing element and its supporting member and operated by movement of the pressing jaw with respect to its supporting member for operating the valve means.

8. In a power pressing machine, a movable supporting member, a pressing jaw mounted on the supporting member, a lost motion connection between the supporting member and the pressing jaw, a fluid motor for operating the pressing machine; valve means controlling the supply of fluid to said motor; and means located between the pressing jaw and its supporting member and operated by movement of the pressing jaw with respect to its supporting member for operating the valve means.

9. A pressingmachine comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable toward and from the other, motor means, motion transmitting means connecting the movable jaw with the motor means, means controlling the motor means for closing the press jaws to initial position with the jaws under light pressure, one of the connections between the jaw and the motor means in the motion transmitting means being a lost motion connection and causing relative movement between the parts so connected when the jaws engage each other, and control means for the motor means and operated by the relative movement at the lost motion connection to operate the motor means and apply heavy pressure between the jaws.

10. In a pressing machine, a buck; a head movable toward and from the buck; a supporting member on which said head is mounted for limited movement relative thereto; actuating means for said supporting carriage; a motor for operating said actuating means to bring the head into contact with the buck under an initial pressure; a second motor for operating said actuating means to apply additional pressure to the head; and means actuated by the movement of the head relatively to the supporting member tor controlling the operation of said second motor.

11. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing jaws one or which is movable toward and from the other, means closing the press jaws to initial position with the jaws under light pressure, a lost motion connection in the closing means causing relative movement between parts of the press so connected when the jaws engage each other, a motor for operating the movable jaw to apply heavy pressure thereto, and control means for'the motor and operated by the relative movement at the lost motion connection to apply heavy pressure between the jaws.

12. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable toward and from the other, means closing the press jaws to initial position with the jaws under light pressure, a lost motion connection in the closing means causing relative movement between parts of the press when the jaws engageeach other, a motor for operating the movable jaw to apply heavy pressure thereto, control means for the motor, and means operated by the relative movement at the lost motion connection to operate the control means and apply heavy pressure between the aws.

13. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable toward and from the other, a supporting member carrying the movable jaw, means actuating the supporting member and closing the press jaws to initial position with the jaws under light pressure, 'a lost motion connection between the supporting member and the jaw causing relative movement therebetween when the jaws engage each other, a motor for operating the supporting member. to apply heavy pressure thereto, and

control means for the motor and operated by the relative movement at the lost motion connection to apply heavy pressure between the jaws.

14. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable toward and from the other, a supporting member carry ing the movable jaw, means actuating the supporting member and closing the press jaws to initial position with the jaws under light pressure, a lost motion connection between the supporting member and the jaw causing relative movement therebetween when the jaws engage each other, a motor for operating the supporting member to apply heavy pressure thereto, control means for the motor, and means operated by the relative movement at the lost motion connection to operate the control means and apply heavy pressure between the jaws.

15. A pressing machine comprising cooperating pressing jaws one of which is movable toward and from the other, a supporting member carrying the movable jaw, means closing the press jaws to initial position with the jaws under light pressure, a lost motion connection between the supporting member and the jaw causing relative movement therebetween when the jaws engage each other, a motor for operating the movable jaw to apply heavy pressure thereto, and control means for the motor carried upon the supporting member and operated by the relative movement at the lost motion connection to apply heavy pressure between the jaws.

16. A garment or ironing press comprising a buck; a head movable toward and from the buck; a motor for operating said head to bring it into contact with the buck under initial pressure: motion transmitting means between said motor and said head, a lost motion connection in the motion transmitting means between the head and the motor which permits relative movement between connected parts when the head engages the buck; a fluid motor for operating said motion transmitting means to apply additional pressure to the head; and control means for said second motor actuated by said relative movement of the connected parts in the lost motion connection.

ERNEST DAVIS. 

